Apparatus and method for vulcanizing tire

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a tire vulcanizing technique which can sufficiently secure a time for supplying a green tire by conveying the green tire to a tire supplying position during a vulcanizing and molding step which has the longest time in the tire vulcanizing step.  
     The invention provides a tire vulcanizing method provided with a tire conveying apparatus which reciprocates between a conveyance waiting position (X 1 ) and a tire supplying position (X 2 ), a tire elevating apparatus which elevates between an ascent holding position and a descent set position at the tire supplying position, a lower mold which reciprocates between the tire supplying position and a tire vulcanizing position, and an upper mold which elevates between a descent vulcanizing position and an ascent waiting position at the tire vulcanizing position. The tire conveyance supplying step to the tire conveyance returning step by the tire conveying apparatus are executed during the vulcanizing and molding step by the lower mold and the upper mold.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a tire vulcanizing apparatus and a tirevulcanizing method for continuously vulcanizing and molding a green tire(a raw tire), and more particularly to a technique for supplying thegreen tire to the tire vulcanizing apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

In conventional technique, a tire vulcanizing apparatus for continuouslyvulcanizing and molding a green tire is provided with a cradle forreceiving the green tire, an upper mold and a lower mold for vulcanizingand molding the green tire, and a tire elevating apparatus for settingthe green tire to the lower mold.

The green tire is molded by steps comprising mounting the green tire onthe cradle, temporarily holding the green tire by the tire elevatingapparatus, thereafter setting the green tire to the lower mold, andvulcanizing and molding the green tire between the lower mold and theupper mold.

The applicant of the present invention has already proposed a tirevulcanizing apparatus which solves a time loss in the molding step(Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-158447).

The prior tire vulcanizing apparatus is provided with, as shown in FIGS.2A, 2B, 2C and 2D, a cradle 6 which receives a green tire T from a tiresupplying apparatus 5 at a tire receiving position M1 moves the receivedgreen tire T to a tire supplying position M2, a tire elevating apparatus8 which elevates at the tire supplying position M2 so as to hold thegreen tire T on the cradle 6, and sets the green tire T to a lower mold7, and an upper mold 9 which elevates at a tire vulcanizing position M3so as to vulcanize and mold the green tire T with respect to the lowermold 7.

Further, the structure is made such that a moving unit U in which thecradle 6 and the lower mold 7 are integrally connected is formed, andthe lower mold 7 is reciprocated between the tire supplying position M2and the tire vulcanizing position M3 at the same time when the cradle 6is moved between the tire receiving position M1 and the tire supplyingposition M2 by reciprocating the moving unit U.

In the prior tire vulcanizing apparatus, since the moving unit U inwhich the cradle 6 and the lower mold 7 are integrally connected isformed, the green tire is supplied to the cradle 6 from the tiresupplying apparatus 5 at a time of setting the green tire T to the lowermold 7, the lower mold 7 is moved to the tire vulcanizing position M3from the tire supplying position M2 by setting the green tire T to thelower mold 7 and thereafter moving the moving unit U, and the cradle 6is moved to the tire supplying position M2 from the tire receivingposition M1.

As mentioned above, in the case that the lower mold 7 is moved from thetire supplying position M2 to the tire vulcanizing position M3, thecradle 6 is left at the tire supplying position M2 during the movement,and can not be supplied the green tire T.

Accordingly, the time at which the cradle 6 can receives the green tireT is limited to the time for setting the green tire T to the lower mold7, so that the time for supplying the green tire T is shortened.Accordingly, there is a problem that the apparatus is hard to handle ata time of practical operation.

The present invention is made in order to solve the problem mentionedabove, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tirevulcanizing apparatus and a tire vulcanizing method which cansufficiently secure a time for supplying a green tire by conveying thegreen tire to a tire supplying position during a vulcanizing and moldingstep which has the longest time in the tire vulcanizing step.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the object mentioned above, in accordance with afirst aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tirevulcanizing apparatus comprising:

a tire conveying apparatus which reciprocates between a conveyancewaiting position and a tire supplying position, conveys a green tirereceived at the conveyance waiting position to the tire supplyingposition, and returns to the conveyance waiting position after the greentire is held at the tire supplying position by an tire elevatingapparatus;

the tire elevating apparatus which elevates at the tire supplyingposition, ascends the green tire conveyed to the tire supplying positionby the tire conveying apparatus to an ascent holding position whileholding the green tire, and descends to a descent set position from theascent holding position so as to set the green tire to a lower moldcoming to the tire supplying position;

the lower mold which reciprocates between the tire supplying positionand a tire vulcanizing position, to which the green tire is set at thetire supplying position by the tire elevating apparatus, and which ismoved to the tire vulcanizing position from the tire supplying positionin a state of setting the green tire, vulcanizes and molds the greentire with respect to the upper mold at the tire vulcanizing position,and thereafter is moved to the tire supplying position from the tirevulcanizing position; and

an upper mold which elevates at the tire vulcanizing position,vulcanizes and molds the green tire with respect to the lower mold at adescent vulcanizing position, and thereafter ascends to an ascentwaiting position so as to move apart from the lower mold,

wherein the tire conveying apparatus reciprocates at one time betweenthe conveyance waiting position and the tire supplying position during aperiod of vulcanizing and molding the green tire between the lower moldand the upper mold at the tire vulcanizing position.

Further, in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention,there is provided a tire vulcanizing method provided with a tireconveying apparatus which reciprocates between a tire supplying positionand a conveyance waiting position, a tire elevating apparatus whichelevates between an ascent holding position and a descent set positionat the tire supplying position, a lower mold which reciprocates betweenthe tire supplying position and a tire vulcanizing position, and anupper mold which elevates between a descent vulcanizing position and anascent waiting position at the tire vulcanizing position, comprising:

a tire conveyance supplying step of moving the tire conveying apparatusfrom the conveyance waiting position to the tire supplying position soas to convey the green tire received at the conveyance waiting positionto the tire supplying position;

a tire ascent holding step of ascending the green tire on the tireconveying apparatus to the ascent holding position by holding the greentire by the tire elevating apparatus after the tire conveyance supplyingstep;

a tire conveyance returning step of moving the tire conveying apparatusfrom the tire supplying position to the conveyance waiting positionafter the tire ascent holding step;

a tire descent setting step of descending the tire elevating apparatusfrom the ascent holding position to a descent setting position so as toset the green tire to the lower mold coming to the tire supplyingposition, after the tire ascent holding step;

a supply moving step of moving the lower mold in a state of setting thegreen tire from the tire supplying position to the tire vulcanizingposition, after the tire descent setting step;

a tire vulcanizing step of vulcanizing and molding the green tirebetween the upper mold descending to the descent vulcanizing portion andthe lower mold at the tire vulcanizing position, after the supply movingstep;

a leaving step of ascending the upper mold to the ascent waitingposition so as to leave from the lower mold, after the tire vulcanizingstep; and

a return moving step of moving the lower mold from the tire vulcanizingposition to the tire supplying position, after the leaving step,

wherein the tire conveyance supplying step to the tire conveyancereturning step by the tire conveying apparatus are executed during thevulcanizing and molding step.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a process of a tire vulcanizingmethod in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a process of a conventional tirevulcanizing method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A description will be given below of a mode for carrying out the presentinvention on the basis of an embodiment shown in the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a process of a tire vulcanizingmethod in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In the tire vulcanizing apparatus, three positions comprising aconveyance waiting position X1, a tire supplying position X2 and a tirevulcanizing position X3 are provided.

In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a tire conveying apparatus.The tire conveying apparatus 1 reciprocates between a conveyance waitingposition X1 and a tire supplying position X2. Reference numeral 2denotes a tire elevating apparatus. The tire elevating apparatus 2elevates between an ascent holding position Y1 and a descent settingposition Y2 at the tire supplying position X2. Reference numeral 3denotes a lower mold. The lower mold 3 reciprocates between the tiresupplying position and a tire vulcanizing position X3. Reference numeral4 denotes an upper mold. The upper mold 4 elevates between a descentvulcanizing position Y3 and an ascent waiting position Y4 at the tirevulcanizing position.

The tire conveying apparatus 1 conveys a green tire T received at theconveyance waiting position X1 to the tire supplying position X2, and isreturned to the conveyance waiting position X1 after the green tire T isheld by the tire elevating apparatus 2 at the tire supplying positionX2.

The tire conveying apparatus 1 preferably employs an optionally movablestructure such as a self-propelled supply car.

The tire elevating apparatus 2 is structured such as to ascend the greentire T conveyed to the tier supplying position X2 by the tire conveyingapparatus 1 to the ascent holding position Y1 while holding, and todescend to the descent setting position Y2 from the ascent holdingposition Y1 so as to set the green tire T to the lower mold 3 coming tothe tire supplying position X2.

The green tire T is set to the lower mold 3 by the tire elevatingapparatus 2 at the tire supplying position X2. In this case, a centermechanism provided with a bladder (not shown) is provided in the lowermold 3, and the green tire T is set to the lower mold 3 while preventingthe green tire T from being deformed in accordance with a shaping on thebasis of a closely contact of the bladder with an inner surface of thegreen tire T caused by an expansion of the bladder.

As mentioned above, the tire elevating apparatus is structured such asto move from the tire supplying position X2 to the tire vulcanizingposition X3 in a state of setting the green tire T, to vulcanize andmold the green tire T with respect to the upper mold 4 at the tirevulcanizing position X3 and thereafter to move to the tire supplyingposition X2 from the tire vulcanizing position X3.

The upper mold 4 is structured such as to vulcanize and mold the greentire T with respect to the lower mold 3 at the descent vulcanizingposition Y3 and thereafter to ascend to the ascent waiting position Y4so as to move apart from the lower mold 3.

Further, the tire conveying apparatus 1 is structured such as toreciprocate between the conveyance waiting position X1 and the tiresupplying position X2 at one time during a period of vulcanizing andmolding the green tire T between the lower mold 3 and the upper mold 4at the tire vulcanizing position X3.

Next, a description will be given of a tire vulcanizing method.

A description will be first given of a step of supplying the green tireT by means of the tire conveying apparatus 1.

In a tire conveyance supplying step (FIG. 1B), the tire conveyingapparatus 1 is moved from the conveyance waiting position X1 to the tiresupplying position X2, and the green tire T received at the conveyancewaiting position X1 is conveyed to the tire supplying position X2.

Next, there is executed a tire ascent holding step (FIG. 1C) ofascending the green tire T on the tire conveying apparatus 1 to theascent holding position Y1 by holding the green tire by the tireelevating apparatus 2 after the tire conveyance supplying step (FIG.1B).

Next, there is executed a tire conveyance returning step (FIG. 1D) ofmoving the tire conveying apparatus 1 from the tire supplying positionX2 to the conveyance waiting position X1 after the tire ascent holdingstep (FIG. 1C).

In accordance with the steps mentioned above, the green tire T issupplied (for example, FIG. 1E) to the tire conveying apparatus 1 by atire delivering apparatus (not shown) during the tire conveyancereturning step (FIGS. 1D to 1G) in which the tire conveying apparatus 1is moved at the conveyance waiting position X1, and thereafter each ofthe operations are repeated in the order of the tire conveyancesupplying step (FIG. 1B) the tire ascent holding step (FIG. 1C) and thetire conveyance returning step (FIG. 1D) in the same manner as mentionedabove.

Next, a description will be given of a tire vulcanizing and molding stepby the lower mold 3 and the upper mold 4.

There is executed a tire descent setting step (FIG. 1G) of descendingthe tire elevating apparatus 2 from the ascent holding position Y1 tothe descent setting position Y2 so as to set the green tire T to thelower mold 3 coming to the tire supplying position X2 from the tirevulcanizing position X3, after the tire ascent holding step (FIG. 1C).

Next, there is executed a supply moving step (FIG. 1A) of moving thelower mold 3 in a state of setting the green tire T from the tiresupplying position X2 to the tire vulcanizing position X3, after thetire descent setting step (FIG. 1G).

There is executed a tire vulcanizing step (FIG. 1B) of vulcanizing andmolding the green tire T between the upper mold descending to thedescent vulcanizing portion Y3 and the lower mold 3 at the tirevulcanizing position X3, after the supply moving step (FIG. 1A).

Further, the tire conveyance supplying step (FIG. 1B), the tire ascentholding step (FIG. 1C) and the tire conveyance returning step (FIG. 1D)are executed during a period (FIGS. 1B to 1D) of executing the tirevulcanizing step.

Next, there is executed a leaving step (FIG. 1E) of ascending the uppermold 4 to the ascent waiting position Y4 so as to leave from the lowermold 3, after the tire vulcanizing step (FIG. 1D).

Further, there is executed a return moving step (FIG. 1F) of moving thelower mold 3 from the tire vulcanizing position X3 to the tire supplyingposition X2, after the leaving step (FIG. 1E).

The tire T1 after being vulcanized and molded are taken out from theupper mold 4 during a period (FIGS. 1F to 1G) of the return moving step(For example, FIG. 1F).

In the tire vulcanizing method mentioned above, since the lower mold 3and the tire conveying apparatus 1 can independently move, a timing ofmoving the tire conveying apparatus 1 is not limited by the movement ofthe lower mold 3.

Accordingly, as mentioned above, it is possible to execute the tireconveyance supplying step (FIG. 1B), the tire ascent holding step (FIG.1C) and the tire conveyance returning step (FIG. 1D) during a period(FIGS. 1B to 1D) of executing the tire vulcanizing step.

Accordingly, the green tire T can be conveyed to the tire supplyingposition X2 during the vulcanizing and molding step having a longesttime in the tire vulcanizing step, the supplying tire for the green tireT can be sufficiently secured and it is possible to easily handle thegreen tire T.

In this case, in the present invention, one tire conveying apparatus maybe employed for one tire vulcanizing apparatus, or one tire conveyingapparatus may be used in common for a plurality of tire vulcanizingapparatuses.

In the case that one tire conveying apparatus is provided, for example,for a plurality of tire vulcanizing apparatuses arranged in front, rear,right and left sides, the structure may be made such that the greentires are stocked in a lump, and the green tire is mounted and suppliedto the tire conveying apparatus in correspondence to a productionschedule and an operating condition of each of the tire vulcanizingapparatuses.

Further, although being omitted in the embodiment mentioned above, itgoes without saying that the vulcanized and molded tire taken out fromthe upper mold can be continuously delivered to the PCI apparatus(pressurizing and cooling apparatus) so as to be stabilized in a moldingstate.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, in accordance with the tire vulcanizing apparatusand the tire vulcanizing method of the present invention, since the tireconveyance supplying step, the tire ascent holding step and the tireconveyance returning step are executed during the period of executingthe tire vulcanizing step, the green tire can be conveyed to the tiresupplying position during the longest vulcanizing and molding step inthe tire vulcanizing step, so that it is possible to obtain the effectthat the tire for supplying the green tire can be sufficiently securedand the green tire can be easily handled.

1. A tire vulcanizing apparatus comprising: a tire conveying apparatuswhich reciprocates between a conveyance waiting position and a tiresupplying position, conveys a green tire received at the conveyancewaiting position to the tire supplying position, and returns to theconveyance waiting position after the green tire is held at the tiresupplying position by an tire elevating apparatus; the tire elevatingapparatus which elevates at said tire supplying position, ascends thegreen tire conveyed to the tire supplying position by said tireconveying apparatus to an ascent holding position while holding thegreen tire, and descends to a descent set position from the ascentholding position so as to set the green tire to a lower mold coming tosaid tire supplying position; the lower mold which reciprocates betweensaid tire supplying position and a tire vulcanizing position, to whichthe green tire is set at said tire supplying position by the tireelevating apparatus, and which is moved to the tire vulcanizing positionfrom the tire supplying position in a state of setting the green tire,vulcanizes and molds the green tire with respect to the upper mold atthe tire vulcanizing position, and thereafter is moved to the tiresupplying position from the tire vulcanizing position; and an upper moldwhich elevates at said tire vulcanizing position, vulcanizes and moldsthe green tire with respect to said lower mold at a descent vulcanizingposition, and thereafter ascends to an ascent waiting position so as tomove apart from said lower mold, wherein said tire conveying apparatusreciprocates at one time between the conveyance waiting position and thetire supplying position during a period of vulcanizing and molding thegreen tire between the lower mold and the upper mold at the tirevulcanizing position.
 2. A tire vulcanizing method provided with a tireconveying apparatus which reciprocates between a tire supplying positionand a conveyance waiting position, a tire elevating apparatus whichelevates between an ascent holding position and a descent set positionat said tire supplying position, a lower mold which reciprocates betweensaid tire supplying position and a tire vulcanizing position, and anupper mold which elevates between a descent vulcanizing position and anascent waiting position at said tire vulcanizing position, comprising: atire conveyance supplying step of moving the tire conveying apparatusfrom the conveyance waiting position to the tire supplying position soas to convey the green tire received at the conveyance waiting positionto the tire supplying position; a tire ascent holding step of ascendingthe green tire on the tire conveying apparatus to the ascent holdingposition by holding the green tire by the tire elevating apparatus aftersaid tire conveyance supplying step; a tire conveyance returning step ofmoving the tire conveying apparatus from the tire supplying position tothe conveyance waiting position after said tire ascent holding step; atire descent setting step of descending the tire elevating apparatusfrom the ascent holding position to a descent setting position so as toset the green tire to the lower mold coming to the tire supplyingposition, after said tire ascent holding step; a supply moving step ofmoving the lower mold in a state of setting the green tire from the tiresupplying position to the tire vulcanizing position, after said tiredescent setting step; a tire vulcanizing step of vulcanizing and moldingthe green tire between the upper mold descending to the descentvulcanizing portion and said lower mold at the tire vulcanizingposition, after said supply moving step; a leaving step of ascendingsaid upper mold to the ascent waiting position so as to leave from saidlower mold, after said tire vulcanizing step; and a return moving stepof moving said lower mold from the tire vulcanizing position to the tiresupplying position, after said leaving step, wherein the tire conveyancesupplying step to the tire conveyance returning step by said tireconveying apparatus are executed during said vulcanizing and moldingstep.